Last weekend it was finally time for the Kida relay. I had been looking forward to to this race for a while and was very excited to be on a team with three triathlon studs: Leslie Howlett, Jameson King, and Ian Nelson. We were hoping to be able to win the co-ed division but secretly (or not so secretly, actually), the boys were wishing to beat the male teams, as well.
this race had me smiling all day
(but not all night)
This is how the relay works:
8am-8pm: we take turns biking a 25-mile loop
8pm-8am: we take turns running a 6-mile loop
The teams get points for each loop. The faster, the more points. Makes sense?
Jameson started out and pulled all the other teams around West Mountain. Then it was Ian's turn. Here he is handing me the "baton", which is really a slap stick.
I ride around the mountain. Come back.
Leslie's turn
We were able to do 10 loops in 12 hours. Not bad. No teams managed to get more. Props to Ian and Jameson who did 3 laps each. They were amazingly fast! Even at the end when it got really windy. When Leslie and I were not racing, we felt like we were on "vacation". Time to stretch, eat, relax, chat, and meet new people. It was a nice break from chasing kids around in between workouts.
We also did plenty of cheering
Our friends, Heath and Mahagoni, put this race on in order to raise money for Kids on the Move, a local non-profit agency for developmentally delayed children. They named the race after their daughter, Kida, who was diagnosed with Cerebral Palsy at 18 months. Unfortunately, I only caught the end of the kids' run because I was out on the bike. It was very impressive and inspiring to see little kids race in their wheel chairs and/or be pushed by siblings.
By the time we were ready to run, the strong breeze had turned into a little tornado. Nice. I was our first runner and was ready to go ... for about 3 minutes. That is when I started to feel stomach sick. Just like in the Buffalo Run. Maybe worse. I took it somewhat easy and managed to make it back. I am not sure how everyone else did because I spent the next three hours either in the bathroom or in the fetal position. Luckily not at the same time...
I was seriously questioning my ability to run another lap but I was not about the let my team down. Time to suck it up. At the same time I did not want to kill myself seeing how I have three more races coming up in the next few weeks. Problem.
Well, at 10:30 I got ready for another loop and tried to make one last trip to the bathroom. By now the tornado was anything but little and I pretty much got blown over on my way. All the tents were gone and Heath, the race director, had a hard time keeping the race equipment together and working. He told us to go hibernate for another hour to see if maybe the wind would calm down and we all disappeared.
We were fortunate to be able to "sleep" in the PowerTri trailer instead of a tent but it was so noisy in there that sleep was hard to find.
By 3 am I decided I was done. We figured the race was done. I packed up my stuff, drove home, and went to bed. Lovely.
I felt sad and relieved at the same time. I honestly don't know if my body could have handled another 30 km of running throughout the night. So mother nature came to my help. At the same time, I would have loved to feel decent and see how everything unfolds. Maybe I will come up from Flagstaff for next year's race.
Heath, Mahagoni, and Jarom Thurston did a great job putting on this race. Thank you so much! I am looking forward to the post-race BBQ on Friday.
PS: The next day Karl ran a smashing 4:20 at the Timpanogos Trail Marathon and took 3rd overall! Congratulations, Karl! We are so happy for you!
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